Travel guides

Preparation, transfers, sample itineraries and shopping. Written once and kept current.

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  Guide

  Paying in Taiwan: Cash, EasyCard, Credit Cards and Mobile Wallets (2026)

  Where Taiwan is still cash only, which ATMs take foreign cards, what EasyCard pays for and its NT$1,500 limit, where Visa, JCB, UnionPay, Alipay or WeChat Pay work, plus tipping and the receipt lottery.

  • Budget
  • Shopping
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  Guide

  Taiwan Convenience Stores: Train Tickets, EasyCard, ATMs, Cheap Food and the Receipt Lottery at 7-ELEVEN and FamilyMart

  How to use Taiwan's 7-ELEVEN, FamilyMart, Hi-Life and OK mart like a local: collect THSR and TRA tickets at the kiosk, buy and top up an EasyCard, find an ATM and a payment method that work for you, print, eat cheaply, find a restroom or Wi-Fi, deal with trash, and cash in a winning receipt. Fees checked on the official sites in September 2026.

  • Budget
  • Shopping
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  Guide

  Taiwan Tax Refund and What to Buy: the 5% VAT Refund, Airport Kiosks and Souvenirs (2026)

  How foreign visitors get Taiwan's 5% VAT back: the NT$2,000 same-day same-store rule, the 20% handling fee, on-site and downtown refunds, what happens at the airport kiosk, and what is actually worth buying.

  • Budget
  • Shopping